Outline of Ofuna Botanical Garden

Ofuna Botanical Garden was opened in 1962 on the site of the Kanagawa agricultural experiment station for promotion of ornamental plant production and flower gardening.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of flowers, including Peony and Japanes Iris which have been improved and cultivated on this site since the Taisho period (early 20C), and can be seen only in this Garden.  We also grow and display excellent ornamental plants collected from home and abroad with a focus on the systematically-gathered roses and rhododendrons.

The Garden has come to have over 3,000 taxa of plants, which give various colors to the Garden in each season.

Various events are held regularly, such as exhibitions of flower and greenery and gardening seminars/consultations so that many visitors can enjoy learning about plants and develop familiarity with them.

Plants in the Garden: about 3,000 taxa
Peony: 210
Japanese Iris:120 taxa
Roses: 370 taxa
Tree peony: 120taxa
Rhododendrons/Azalea:100taxa
Camella:160taxa
Japanese apricot:40
Cherry blossom(Sakura):40 taxa

Information for Visitors

Opening hours:
Mar. to Oct.
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Nov. to Feb.
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Days closed:
Mondays (except ones that fall on national holiday, etc.)
Days after national holiday
(except ones that fall on Sat., Sun. or national holiday, etc.)
Year-end and New Year days (Dec.29 to Jan.3)
Admission fees:
20years & over (excluding students)  ￥400
（￥350　for a party of 20 or more people)
The annual passport  ￥2000
Students & under 20 years  ￥200
（￥150　for a party of 20 or more pepole）
The annual passport  ￥1000
High school students & 65 years and over ￥150
（￥100　for a party of 20 or more pepole）
The annual passport  ￥1000
  • ※Students & under 20 years ,high school studens, pepole over 65 years and pepole with disabilities required to present ID.
  • ※Pets are not allowed in the Garden.

Access

Access:
16-minute walk from the west exit “Kannon-gawa” of JR Ofuna Station, or
take the Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu Bus at the JR Ofuna Sta. west exit bus station No. 1 bound for Fujisawa Sta. via Watauchi or for Shiromeguri-nakamura via Kokaido-mae.  Get off at “Okamoto” bus stop.
Parking information
109 standard-sized cars and 5 large cars
Standard-sized cars: ￥200/h, ￥100 for every additional 30 minutes
Large and medium-sized cars: ￥620/h, ￥300 for every additional 30 minutes
(￥20 out of the parking fee goes to tree-planting campaign.)
  • ※Parking lot is very crowded during the tourist season between March and June, and November.  We recommend using public transportation when visiting.

Address

  • Address: 1018, Okamoto, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture 247-0072
  • Tel:0467-46-2188
  • Fax:0467-46-2486
Web site:
http://www.fcofuna-kanagawa.jp/
Contact:
http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/sosiki/kannou/1666/index/html

flower

Peony (best viewing season: May)
Ofuna Botanical Garden boasts the largest number of Peonies in the country: 2,500 stocks of 210 varieties, including theOfuna strain which can be seen only in this Botanical Garden in Japan.  The Ofuna strain was bred for export from the end of the Meiji period to the beginning of the Showa period at the prefectural agricultural experimental station that was on this site.  In its flowering period, visitors can enjoy tens of thousands of Peonies in bloom.  The best time for viewing is from the beginning to the middle of May.
Rose (best viewing season: May to Jul., Oct. to Nov.)
The rosery in the center of the Botanical Garden has about 1,200 stocks of 370 taxa, including original stocks, old roses, modern roses and climbing roses.  These roses are arranged three-dimensionally making use of the distinctive feature of each type to form a nice-looking landscape.  Visitors can see varieties breeding in Kanagawa at some sections, including many aromatic ones.  These roses are at their best from mid-May to early July and from mid-October to mid-November.
Rhododendron (best viewing season: April)
The Botanical Garden’s rhododendrons include “Taiyo”, a variety with heat tolerance breeding in the prefecture and other varieties breeding in the Garden over many years.  These rhododendrons can be seen on the Miniature Hill of Flowers and in the Azalea and Rhododendron Garden, which was made in 2002 in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the Garden’s opening.
Japanese Iris (best viewing season: June)
Japanese Iris was breeding  from Japanese water Iris, and has flowers in various colors and shapes.  Japanese Iris of Ofuna strain cultivated in the Botanical Garden was originated here from the end of the Meiji period to the beginning of the Showa period.  The Garden has about 1,300 stocks of 120 varieties that also include Edo strain , Higo strain and Ise strain.  June is the best season to view the Garden’s Irises.